5 Ways to Dress Sustainably

5 Ways to Dress Sustainably

Sustainability is not just another new trend, but a revolution that is long overdue. While fast fashion has made clothes available to us at cheaper prices, it has come with huge costs. Mass production of poor quality clothing is a major contributor of global pollution and water consumption. In the fashion industry, we are finally steering the conversation away from how many pieces we own to how sustainable our wardrobe is.

Here are five ways in which you can contribute to the movement by shopping and dressing more sustainably:

• Old is Gold: The most sustainable outfits are those already in your wardrobe. Jane Fonda made headlines last year when she vowed to never buy a new piece of clothing again. In fact, she wore a gown to the Oscars that she had previously worn to Cannes. Impressive right? Even if you don’t already have a wardrobe full enough to make a “no new shopping” vow, you can still reinvent your old pieces. There is nothing more environmentally friendly and creatively satisfying than creating a new look from old pieces.

• Find your Style: Find your own style if you want to dress sustainably. Wear what expresses YOU best; don’t follow the latest fashion trends. In doing so, you will be doing both yourself and the environment a favor. Literally – tons – of textile waste in generated because of passing fads. Clothes are discarded simply because they are not in trend anymore. We often buy new clothes which are supposedly in fashion even though they might not be what we actually want to wear. Develop your own classic style for a unique look that is easier on the planet and your wallet.

• Make Thrifting your Thing: Thrift shopping is a booming market. It’s both easy on your wallet and good for the environment. If buying new clothes from sustainable brands is a little expensive, thrifting is an equally good option which everyone has access to. Bonus – you can treat yourself to leather and other items without the guilt.

• Thirty Times Test: Livia Firth started the #30wears campaign to encourage sustainable buying. Before getting a new piece of clothing, ask yourself if you will be able to wear it at least thirty times. You may be surprised at how many times you find the answer is no. Instead of giving-in to frivolous fads or buying new statement pieces which you know you won’t wear more than a couple of times, invest in clothes that you will wear on a more regular basis.

• Fix the Fabric: Choose clothing made from natural fabrics which will easily decompose and return to the Earth. Synthetic fibers stay intact in landfills, taking eons to disintegrate. Fashion made from natural fibers not only consumes less resources than synthetic fibers, but also contributes less pollution. Natural fibers also mean higher quality and comfort, so take care of your favorite natural items!

It is about time we put a more fashionable foot forward – sustainably. However, lasting transitions don’t happen overnight. Just as you slowly work your way to a beach body, so do you towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Every small change counts. So no matter how small those changes are, just keep making them.

 style Sustainable fashion